DISCLAIMER: The above posting, if in response to a background or hiring question, is not meant to discourage any dreams or ambitions, but instead is a brutally honest opinion based soley on the information provided by the original poster. Please note that your suitability as an applicant is NOT tied in any way with your worth as a person.

I'm working on a piece of fiction (lit). I don't want a fictional character doing something that would not legally be possible...thus getting into trouble. Character is going to have enough problems anyway. As for me...I have done nothing wrong that I know of except ask a question.
I don't want to be painting LEO's in a bad light. I don't want to make it tougher for ANYONE because of a piece of fiction that may not ever even see the light of day (I'm just in the process of getting the background/setting and plot details worked out). However, I do want to the piece to be believable and accurate in describing/portraying a LEO's job and how far one would go to help some one out in a difficult situation.
I really don't know anyone locally, on a personal basis, or I would be asking my questions of them, as I would be able to go into specifics with them and get more detailed questions answered.

You may be able to get your information for free by contacting the Houston PD's media relations contact.

Also, there are several officers on here that may be willing to be a professional consultant for your book for a reasonable fee. You will be selling it for a profit, I assume? And before you you say, "Surely, you must be joking", let me just say that it has been done on this board before.

DISCLAIMER: The above posting, if in response to a background or hiring question, is not meant to discourage any dreams or ambitions, but instead is a brutally honest opinion based soley on the information provided by the original poster. Please note that your suitability as an applicant is NOT tied in any way with your worth as a person.

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."- Patrick Henry

As a former dispatcher I can tell you the amount of time a tape is kept really depends on the department and situation. If it is a serious 911 call it will be kept for years, because it may be needed in court. If it is a noise complaint (barking dog call) it is only kept for 90 days. Most 911 calls are kept a MINIMUM of 90 days...